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Sometime the only way to get a book published is to go the self publishing route. These are the 3 steps to getting published.

Self Publishing A Book

Those who embark upon the self-publication route have two things in common: a belief in themselves and a wish to see their book in print. So far, so good. But other writers nurse dreams of great wealth and forthcoming bestsellers. They may be disappointed.

I like the idea of DIY publishing. There are many beautifully crafted books in print that deserved to be published but would never represent a commercially sound risk, from a mainstream book publisher’s standpoint. Nowadays, computers have transformed the publishing process, and when linked to dedicated machinery, can print single copies of a book in a matter of seconds. This is called Print on Demand. Authors are right to consider the merits of bringing their own work to market – once traditional publishing routes have been exhausted.

The Three Steps to Market

Step one of the self publishing process involves the creative process. A quality product in terms of content, writing skills and presentation has to be completed. No matter which publishing route you take, this step has to be accomplished professionally first. There are no short cuts. You first have to write something.

Step two is concerned with pitching or submitting a book manuscript to traditional publishers. This is a business task, not a literary one, that defeats most novice writers. Publishers receive piles of manuscripts daily; if your book proposal is poor, or long-winded, or both – your draft will be buried instantly. Seek advice to help you complete this task effectively.

Step three is concerned with the options for self-publication, once steps one and two above have been taken. You then need to seek out writers who have organised the entire publishing process themselves and take their counsel. For this you need stamina, ability, patience, selling skills, and a secondary source of finance to live off, ‘just in case’ sales don’t match expectations. And, of course, it helps if you have a well-written book, on a popular subject, with a readily identifiable market to aim at.

Getting the DIY Merits of Self Publishing Assessed

Look for a book editing service that, when asked to assess the DIY merits of a particular piece of work, either as a proposed project (relatively easy) or as a completed work (more difficult), discusses the specific skills the writer will need to see the book through its publishing stages. Few writers relish tackling each and every facet of publishing; most prefer to identify those they can handle and those they cannot. A book editing service can recommend writing services that will help them with particular aspects of production.

Look for a company that accepts no commission from such agencies; aspiring authors should know that the price they negotiate is a commercial one that will represent excellent value.

No matter what book you have in mind, they should ensure you know, in advance, precisely what your budget should be. As written elsewhere, there are bandits at large who do nothing else but play on the dreams and vanity of aspiring authors. Their charms are worth avoiding; you deserve better.

Style and Editing

Bad book editors don’t take prisoners. They delight in executions. They have a job to do. Writers have no idea how brutal their first exchange with such a beast is likely to be. Like ‘Compassionate Conservatism’, surely an unfortunate juxtaposition of terms, even considerate editors can make or break a timid writer in seconds. A top editor will never do this and overstep the mark; mediocre ones frequently do.

Where’s all this leading? To the heart of most writers’ concern: ‘won’t my writing style’s individuality be high-jacked by even the finest of book editors?’ The answer is – certainly not. No two writers express themselves in an identical way. Their mannerisms are acquired in childhood, and only a psychiatrist with a perverse mind and literary talent would have the slimmest of chances of altering the essential voice of an individual.

Top editors never attempt to go against the grain of their writers. What they can do is point out where lazy or inappropriate writing habits obscure reason or reduce the impact of the topic they are intent on expressing. Writers should be communicators; if they have habits that reduce this ability then few readers will have the patience to stay with them and will never get to know the person behind the writing.

Beginners often exhibit timidity in expressing views. It’s as though they don’t wish to offend because they are still new to their trade. An apprentice carpenter on the other hand, when first handling a plane to skim off wood, is more likely to take too much off than too little. But at least he makes an impression on the wood and learns by his mistakes. Writers should do the same. Go for it; seize the day; make cock-ups, offend the world; stuff the censor – if you don’t, who will?

If you are planning to write a book, and get published, the sooner you have a book editor to discuss things with the better. Make sure you are put in touch with a sympathetic professional who will guide you through the whole process – and save time and money.